5 Facts You Probably Never Heard Of About Makar Sankranti !

1.) Firstly Why is Makar Sankranti Called Makar Sankranti?

On Makar Sankranti, the sun enters the sun-sign of Capricorn or Makara (the Indian rashi). Therefore the 'Makar' in the name. The word 'Sankranti' signifies the movement of the sun from one zodiac sign to another. Thus, the name of the festival literally means the movement of the sun into Capricorn.

2.) Why do we celebrate the day by flying kites?

There is a very interesting reason behind the kite-flying. Kite-flying in olden days was generally done in the early hours of the morning, when the sun's rays were bright but not too harsh. It is believed during kite-flying, the human body was exposed to the sun for long hours. The early morning sun is considered beneficial for the skin and body. Since winter is also the time of a lot of infections and sickness, by basking in the sun, Hindus believed that the bad bacteria on their bodies would be cleared to a certain extent. Creating a fun way of sun basking where no one would even realise they were reaping benefits was through kite flying.

3.) Its almost always falls on the same date.

Most Hindu festivals follow the position of the moon and are based on the lunar calendar. Thus, the dates of festivals change every year because we follow the Gregorian calendar which is a solar calendar. But Makar Sankranti is a festival which falls on the same day every year as it follows the solar calender. However, once every eighty years, due to revolution of earth around sun and the shifts in the rotation of the earth, the day is postponed by one day. Makar Sankranti is celebrated on the 14th of January every year (sometimes on the 15th) for now. From 2050, it is predicted that the festival will fall on the 15th January (and occasionally on the 16th).

4.) It has more names then you have fingers.

Khichdi, Maghi, Uttarayan, Lohri, Poush Parbon, Makara Sankramana, Pongal (in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka) Maghe Sankranti (in Nepal), Songkran (in Thailand), Pi Ma Lao (in Laos), Thingyan (in Mayanmar) are some of the other popular names of this festival in different places.

5.) There's practically no difference in Thanksgiving and Makar Sankranti.

While Thanksgiving has become a “cool” festival, thanks to Hollywood movies and sitcoms, Makar Sankranti is still to make it in the pop culture. However, there is hardly much difference between the two festivals with both being celebration of harvest, a day to greet family and friends, share a meal together and exchange pleasantries.

By: Rani Jha

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